A youth was Saturday mowed down by a police vehicle in the protests that erupted in Srinagar during the encounter at Chattabal area in which three militants were killed.

Adil Ahmad Yadoo of Safa Kadal was injured critically after a police wanton vehicle ran over him near Cement Kadal.

Adil was declared brought dead on arrival by the doctors at SMHS.

Police forcibly seized his body from the hospital and took it to the Control Room while around the same time, a police spokesman claimed that “medical bulletin suggests that the person died due to a crush injury in a road traffic accident at Noorbagh. Citizens may not pay heed to rumours.”

However, soon after, a video capturing the entire incident went viral on social media debunking the police’s claim.

The video shot by an unknown witness shows a police bunker vehicle crushing the stone-throwing youth to death during clashes at Noorbagh area of Srinagar.

The video went viral on social media with hundreds of thousands of views and shares on several platforms, even though the mobile internet services were blocked in Srinagar.

Chairman Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the youth was “murdered and later denied by forces.”

“How a murder was committed by the forces today and then brazenly denied! Is there no sense of humanity left in India? #AdilMurdered,” Mirwaiz tweeted.

Police, later, issued another statement: “Police has taken the cognizance of the Chattabal incident. Police has registered the case at Noor Bagh, Police station under the relevant provisions of the law against the driver of the Police vehicle.”

Yadoo, as per his family, was the sole bread earner among them. He, as usual, had left home to attend his work at Noor Bagh.

“He was working in a bag manufacturing unit. He was the only source of income in the family. His siblings are not earning anything,” said Adil’s cousin, Noor Mohammad, who was waiting for Adil’s body at Police Control Room (PCR).

Noor said that Adil’s family was poor and lived in miserable conditions. “They have been living in a shed. Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) came thrice to dismantle it. His father Ghulam Mohammad Yadoo, in his 70s has been confined to his home for a long time,” he said.

Adil, besides his old parents, is survived by three brothers and a sister. Later, after the video, showing how Adil was hit by the forces vehicle, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, S P Pani said that they will definitely take action against the driver, who ran over protester in Srinagar, during clashes.

Public Works Minister (PWD), Nayeem Akhtar, while talking to media person said that he was not justifying the killing

“Going through the video, it seems that wrong has been done. Investigation should take place,” he said.

Meanwhile, Joint Hurriyat Leadership called for shutdown on Sunday against Adil’s killing.